About the program
The Inova Fairfax Hospital/Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) Psychiatry Residency Program is a four-year, ACGME-accredited training program offering a uniquely rewarding opportunity to learn within two of Northern Virginia's most respected healthcare institutions. This fully integrated residency combines the robust, multidisciplinary clinical environment of Inova Fairfax Hospital – a nationally recognized academic medical center – with the specialized inpatient psychiatric training offered at NVMHI, a Joint Commission-accredited state psychiatric hospital with decades of experience in public-sector mental healthcare.
Our campus supports a range of graduate medical education programs including both residency programs and fellowships. In addition to the independent Inova training programs, we also partner with Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, the National Capital Consortium (a military program), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other regional programs to provide collaborative training in a wide variety of medical specialties.
Residents benefit from diverse clinical rotations that span consult-liaison psychiatry, comprehensive addiction treatment, child and adolescent psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), women's behavioral health, acute and extended inpatient treatment, and community-based outpatient services focused on youth and families. This dual-institution structure provides unparalleled exposure to both the medical and psychiatric complexities of mental health care, preparing residents to develop strong diagnostic, therapeutic, and systems-based practice skills.
Equally important, the program fosters a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Residents are mentored by dedicated faculty across both institutions and encouraged to grow personally and professionally. With its balanced training model and commitment to resident well-being, the program equips future psychiatrists to lead with empathy, confidence and clinical excellence.
As a resident, you'll be immersed in a community-focused, service-driven model of care – working alongside experienced faculty, serving a diverse patient population and gaining the breadth and depth of skills needed for a wide range of psychiatric career paths.
Joining the Inova Fairfax Hospital/NVMHI Psychiatry Residency Program means becoming part of a mission-driven team committed to compassionate, high-quality mental health care – and making a meaningful impact in the lives of patients across the region.
About Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI)
NVMHI is a Joint Commission-accredited state psychiatric hospital, distinguished by its major metropolitan location and dynamic clinical culture. The Psychiatry Residency Program reflects an innovative partnership between Northern Virginia's leading community hospital and this essential public mental health institution.
As a public sector safety-net hospital, NVMHI serves some of the community's most challenging patients, providing care for a wide array of acute, complex and treatment-refractory cases across the diagnostic spectrum. The institute's psychiatrists are deeply committed to public service, patient care and education. Alongside a diverse team of clinical professionals, they deliver expert biopsychosocial care that includes complex psychopharmacology, medical/primary care and various psychosocial interventions within a systems-based framework. This model engages families, community clinics, group homes, the correctional and legal system and other stakeholders in coordinated care.
NVMHI is a long-established teaching hospital that offers regular grand rounds and didactic sessions, drawing residents and medical students from multiple schools and programs. Its experienced teaching faculty brings diverse backgrounds and expertise, and several have been recognized for their excellence in education.
Inova Fairfax Hospital/NVMHI residents will gain the majority of their adult inpatient clinical experience at NVMHI, working with both civil and forensic patients – including individuals undergoing pretrial evaluations and those found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. Residents provide treatment ranging from emergency/acute psychiatric stabilization to long term care and gradual community reintegration, preparing them to navigate the complexities of psychiatric care in real-world, high-impact settings.
